When mining equipment manufacturer Bucyrus,
Houston, Pa., redesigned its line pans for
coal removal, it increased the size and
thickness of the equipment. The redesign
provided the perfect opportunity to move to
an automated welding cell to keep up with the
additional 150 lbs. of filler metal that
would have to be added to each line pan.

Robotics gained a foothold in industry because they can work in environments that are hot, toxic, or otherwise dangerous. The drawback was the programming, which initially was tedious and time-consuming, especially for precision tasks such as welding. Advancements in tactile sensing systems, automated arc welding controls, and software for tube and pipe welding have helped to spread robotic welding technology.

Implementing robotic welding systems for the first time is generally a successful endeavor. However, potential pitfalls and common mistakes can lead to performance issues and increase operational costs. Making yourself aware of these mistakes and the measures you should take to prevent them will contribute to a pleasant transition from labor-intensive, manual processes to the lower-cost, higher-quality automated ones in use today and into the future.

Automated welding holds great promise forkeeping U.S. metal fabricators competitiveagainst their international counterpartsbecause it keeps labor costs down, but theserobotic welding cells still require somehuman intervention. Having said that,management doesn't want just anyone in therole of robotic welding cell operator. Hereare five characteristics that they can lookfor to ensure they get the right person forthe job.

Want to get more from your robotic GMAW system? Find out how selecting the appropriate wire, consumables, liner, filler metal package, and welding gun can help decrease downtime, increase productivity, and improve quality.

Automation has emerged as an alternative to manual welding, but these robotic and fixed automation technologies tend to work for specific applications, rather than general pipe fabricating. Automation coupled with the flexibility of a human operator during the welding process, however, represents a new alternative for those companies looking to squeeze more productivity out of the pipe fabricating process.

Northwest Iowa Community College decided nine years ago that it would commit itself to leading the way in welding technology education. That commitment has not changed as the school recently replaced its 16-year-old robotic welding cell with a Robotic Education cell provided in conjunction by Lincoln Electric and FANUC Robotics.

North American fabricators have not been as active in adoptingautomated bending cells as their counterparts in other parts of theworld. But that may be changing. These five questions can help afabricator decide how to justify the case for a robotic press brake.

Skyline Steel, a subsidiary of ArcelorMittal, recognized in 2001 that for it to win contracts for high-end projects requiring high-pressure and high-strength steel spiral pipe, it would need to become more competitive in price. That's why the company turned to Servo-Robot Corp. and its AUTO-TRAC laser vision seam tracking for pipe welding.

SituationLB Steel LLC/Coburn Steel Products is a privately held fabricating and machining company with about 300 employees and multiple plants. Approximately 350,000 sq. ft. of its 500,000-sq.-ft. facility in Harvey, Ill., is dedicated to fabrication.Most of the welding the company does involves...

Peripheral equipment for robotic welding can help maximize the effectiveness of an automated workcell and protect the investment from costly damages. Understanding peripheral equipment is the first step in getting the most out of a robotic workcell.

What kind of a difference did an automated fabricating system make for Wood Stone Corp., Bellingham, Wash.? Before the system, the company actually had more people in the shop, and they were working 10 hour days for about 4-6 months to make fewer products than are produced today.

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Things change and businesses move. Change and moving aren’t always easy, but acceptance and good planning can help make the transition as seamless and painless as possible. Remember, it is what it is. Make the best of it.

Canadian Metalworking / Canadian Fabricating & Welding

Canadian Metalworking/Canadian Fabricating & Welding is a trade publication that covers all aspects of the country's metalworking, fabricating & welding industries. We strive to bring you the latest news, products, and insights to keep our readers aware of the latest industry trends.